Dispensing machine eob toilet seat covers



' May 19, 1931.

c. YOUNG DISPENSING MACHINE FOR TOILET SEAT COVERS 5, 1928 a Sheet-Sheet 1' Filed Nov.

C. O. YOUNG DISPENSING MACHINE FOR TOILET. SEAT COVERS 5 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

y ;1931. c. Q'YOUNG 1,806,573

DISPENSING MACHINE FOR TOILET SEAT COVERS Filed Nov. 5, 1928 '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIII'III' llll'lllllllll Patented May 19, 1931 PATENT oFFicE CHARLES O. YOUNG, OF CLACKAMAS, OREGON DISPENSING IEACHINE FGB TOILE'I SEAT COVERS Application filed November The primary purpose and object of my device is to devise a coin actuating dispensing machine to be placed in toilets and particularly in public toilets for the dispensing of toilet seat covers through suitable dispensing mechanism adapted to be actuatedthrough one cycle of operation by the depositing of a coin within the coin actuating mechanism associated with the dispensing machine.

In devices of this character they must be so built as to handle and dispense a relatively light tissue paper adapted to being placed upon the toilet seat and after use to being deposited within the toilet and carried away with the flushing of the toilet. The purpose being to provide asanitarycovering for the toilet seat during occupancy of the seat.

The device consists primarily of a case, roll supporting elements disposed in oppositely disposed end walls of the case and having feeding mechanism disposed in the lower portion of the case for automatically delivering a predetermined amount of paper from the roll at each cycle of operation. The cycle of operation is started and stopped through a coin actuator. The dispensing is accomplished through a hand crank or lever disposed through one of the end walls of the case.

The front wall of the case being hingedly secured to the case to facilitate the placing of an added roll within a case. Because of the character and nature of the paper to be dispensed it is highly desirable to prevent the shocking of the paper when the hand crank is violently actuated and a shock absorber is placed in the hub of the crank element. Due to the decrease of the diameter of the roll from which the paper is to be dispensed and due to the expansion and contraction of the roll due to climatic and'other conditions, it is necessary to provide means for predetermining the length of paper to be dispensed at each cycle of operation; this is accomplished by having spaced holes adjacent the edges of the paper into which tooth members are made to engage in the dispensing operation. It is also desirable to provide centrally spaced holes within the roll to be placed over the toilet bowl when placed upon the toilet seat,

Serial No. 317,437.

means being further provided within the machine to prevent an over-rotation of the roll and to prevent a reverse rotation of the dispensing lever. It is also desirable to provide means to prevent the admission of a coin into the machine when the roll has been depleted.

One of the primary objects of my machine is to provide in compact form a machine for the dispensing of a predetermined length of line tissue paper through a coin actuator in combination with the dispensing machine.

A further object 01" my device resides in a simplified construction that delivers a predetermined length of tissue paper at each 0.

cycle of operation, the cycle of operation being determined through a coin actuated mechanism.

A further object of my device resides in a; mechanism the beginning cycle of which is adapted to be manipulated through a coin actuated device; thereby unlocking the dispensing mechanism for one complete rotation, which constitutesthecycle of operation.

A further object of my device resides in means for normally maintaining the dispensing lever in a predetermined position.

A furtherobj ect of my invention resides in a simple means for maintaining the tissue pa- 8 per in immediate contact with the dispensing mechanism.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a prete'rred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this soccification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective, front view, of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective, front View of the deview, of the assembled device, the same being N taken on line 33 of Fig. 4:, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a sectional, end view, of the assembled device, the same being taken on line et4.- of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional, end view of the assembled device, the same being taken on line of 3, looking in the direction. indicated.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional, end view, made to illustrate the locking mechanism disposed at the entrance end of the coin slot of the coin actuator.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional, end view, of the device the same illustrating the coin receiving receptacle disposed at the inner lower end of the coin slot and also illustrating the device for maintaining the tissue paper to be dispensed in intimate contact with the dispensing mechanism, the same being taken on line 'i"7 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fi 8 is a fragmentary, sectional, end view, made to illustrate the coin receiving receptacle with the coin disposed therein.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional, end view of the locking pawl and of the compressible element for normally maintaining the operating and dispensing lever in precise placed position, the same being taken on line 99 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

F 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view of '.he dispens ng lever and the shaft to which the same is attached, the same being made to illustrate the flexible connection between the dispensing lever and the shaft.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the roll of paper, illustrating the central cut outs in preferred embodiment to be disposed central of the toilet bowl. he dispensing slots disposed on each edge of the roll are illustrated and also the final slot disposed adj acent the end of the paper roll, the purpose of which is to lock the entrance to the coin slot wh n the paper roll has been depleted.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the paper in another preferred form of embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, sectional, end view of the dispensing mechanism and the supporting devices through which the paper passes, the primary object of which is to prevent the over-rotation of the roll and to ma ntain the slotted tissue in immediate contact with the dispensing toothed members.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

In preferred embodiment, I make my device of a case havinga top wall 1, and having end walls 2 and 3, and having a front wall 4', the front wall lis hinged relative to the bottom 5, of the case by any suitable hing ing mechanism. I have found best results obtain wherein a full length hinge 6, is provided for that purpose, with the locking rod 7 running therethrough. A suitable locking means 7A is provided to lock the closure when closed to prevent access to the interior of the device. Elements are provided for the supporting of a roll of paper which consists primarily of a fixed member 8, adapted to engage within a hub 9, disposed within one end of the roll and a second supporting element 10, supported upon a flexible support 11. The su} port 10 is adapted to engage within the hub 12 also disposed within the roll of paper. The flexible support 11 also acts as a brake upon the roll to prevent the over-rotation of the roll upon the completion of the cycle of operation. The roll of paper is preferably made of relatively light tissue, having a series of slots 13 disposed in spaced relationship adjacent one edge 14 of the roll and having a second series of slots 15 disposed in spaced relationship with each other and with the oppositely disposed edge of the roll 16. Cut outs 17 are provided within the roll in spaced relationship to spot the same over the central portion of the bowl of the toilet upon which the toilet seat cover is to be placed. In preferred embodiment, the roll is made as illustrated in Fig. 11, wherein cut outs 18 and 19 are disposed upon opposite sides of the central cut out leaving a tongue portion 20 central of the opening thus formed. One end of the tongue 20 is secured to the seat, the other or oppositely disposed end of the tongue is partially cut away at each side, except for a small contact 21.. This tongue maintains the paper in greater continuity during the winding and handling operation and at the same time strengthens the sheet while being handled in the dispensing operation from the machine and the handling of the same after it has been dispensed from the machine.

A shaft 22 runs longitudinally of the machine, one end 23 of which projects through the end wall 2, of the cabinet. The oppositely disposed end f the shaft is mounted within a suitable bracket 24, a crank being disposed adjacent the end of the machine. A ratchet 26 is carried upon the free end of the shaft 22 and a pawl 25 normally rides upon the ratchet wheel the purpose of which is to prevent the rotation of the shaft 22 counterclockwise. A spring 27 engages the crank portion of the shaft, the purpose of which is to maintain the operating lover of the machine in precise normal placement. A dispensing lever 28 is mounted upon the shaft 22 and a hub 29 is disposed upon the inner end of the operating lever. Because of the frail character of the material to be dispensed and because the same may be easily disrupted or torn if the operating lever were violently turned or shocked and to afford flexibility to the operating lever, a coil spring 30 is disposed on the hub. One end of the coil spring 31 is secured to the shaft 23 and the oppositely disposed end 34 of the coil spring is secured to the hub 29 so that if the dispensing lever is violently manipulated the spring will absorb the shock without transmitting the same to the shaft and to the paper itself.

In Fig. 5, I have shown the operating lever 28 as being secured to a stub shaft 28A and a gear 28B secured upon the inner end of the stub shaft. The gear 28B is in registerable engagement with the gear 286 mounted upon the shaft 22. This is in my opinion the preferred embodiment, for through its use the operating lever is normally turned clockwise in dispensing operations but I do not wish to be limited to this form of construction to accomplish this purpose as the ob ject may be accomplished through other means. The lever may also be turned counterclockwise in the dispensing operation and thereby eliminate the stub shaft and the associated gear elements. Feeding sprockets 35 and 36 are disposed uponthe shaft 22, the sprockets having spaced teeth disposed about their periphery for engagement within the spaced slots disposed adjacent the edges of the paper to be dispensed.

A platen 37 extends between the sprockets 35 and 36. The platen consists of a central metallic bar 38 having a flange 39 disposed at either end to adapt the same to engagement with the sprocket member, the same being fastened thereto by any suitable fastening means, as by rivets 40. A compressible jacket 41 is disposed about the outer surface of the bar against which the paper is made to engage. The grip between the platen and the associated roll member should be sufficiently tight to prevent the pulling of the paper from the device and between the platen and the roll. A feeding roller 42 supported within suitable brackets 43 disposed at either end of the roll is mounted upon the inner surface of the closure 4, and is adapted to rest upon the paper to be dis pensed and to contact the same with the platen and also to maintain the paper to be dispensed in registerable engagement with the toothed sprockets. The sprocket engaged the paper between the space 44 disposed between the bracket 43 and a compression spring 45. The spring 45 maintains the free edge of the paper repressed in order that a connection may be maintained between the paper and the sprocket wheels. A shield 46 extends laterally of the case and over the sprocket toothed members to prevent the paper to be dispensed from engaging with the wheels, excepting at the point of registerable engagement with the spaced slots and the sprocket teeth. The shield 46 also acts as a stiffener for the case, affording greater rigidity to the case. A shield 47 also is disposed upon the inner portion of the closure. Guide- Ways 48 and 49 guide the paper to be dispensedthrough the slot 50 disposed within the closure. The paper is out against the upper edge 51 of the slot 50. A counterweighted lever 52' is hingedly supported about the supporting pin 53. When a full roll of paper has been placed within the machine the counterweighted lever 52 is in the a position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, with the free i end of the counterweighted lever in contact with the supporting spring 54. A locking link 55 is secured to the. free end of the lever 52 and extends upwardly into the coin slot. ,As the roll of paper becomes depleted the engaging hook 56 terminating the link 57 that is in hinged relation with the lever 52 about the journal pin 58 engages slot 59 disposed adjacent the'endof the paper to be dispensed and actuates the counterweighted lever 52 and disengages the same from the- 61 is secured to the sprocket wheel 35,

and as the coin enters the pocket the same rests upon a counterbalance 62. The counterbalance 62 is supported and journaled about a journal pin 63 and an adjusting screw 64 is carried upon one end of the counterbalance and locking lever 62.- The shaft 22 carrying the feedingsprockets cannot be rotated counter-clockwise because of the looking ratchet and pawl associated therewith and without the admission of a coin into the coin pocket 61, the feeding sprockets cannot berotated clockwise because of the engagement of the locking ledge 65 disposed upon the lower side of the coin pocket, illustrated in Fig. 7. The admission of the coin into the Iii-i5 pocket rests upon the counterbalance lever 62 and depresses the same so that the locking ledge 65 rides over the depressed counterbalance thereby permitting the rotation of the dispensing mechanism for one cycle of op eration. The coin is carried within the pocket 61 until eliminated therefrom by gravity as the pocket is rotated to inverted position by the rotation of the sprocket during the cycle of operation. In the event of the person actuating the machines failing to rotate the dispensing mechanism through a full cycle of operation, the tension spring 27 secured to the crank 25 of the operating shaft 22 completes the cycle of operation by 13 returning the crank to its normally repressed position.

lVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming Within the scope of the claim which follows.

What I claim is:

A coin chute having a slot control mechanism comprising a locking link disposed therein and secured to the free end of a counterweighted lever hingedly connected to the coin chute, a supporting spring disposed upon the side of a cabinet, its free end intimately disposed upon the free end of the counterweighted lever, and a link hingedly secured to the oppositely disposed end of the eounterweighted lever, said link having disposed at its opposite end an engaging hook adapted for the purposes described.

CHARLES O. YOUNG. 

